N.C. Highway Patrol commander sworn in

Gov. Beverly Perdue and other state officials appeared at Gilchrist's swearing-in ceremony.

Gilchrist, a 24-year patrol veteran, replaced former commander Col. Randy Glover, who stepped down in late August after only a year on the job.

The 2,300-employee patrol has been beset by continued reports of troopers resigning or being fired for problems ranging from drunken driving arrests to sending inappropriate text messages.

The 51-year-old Gilchrist is a Plymouth native who joined the patrol in 1986. He became deputy commander earlier this year.

"I take this appointment as an opportunity to make the Highway Patrol a better organization, to solidify organizational strengths, to improve weaknesses, and to improve things that will make us a stronger, more efficient, service-oriented organization," Gilchrist said.